Right-to-Repair Now Becomes Law in New York

Right-to-Repair Now Becomes Law in New York

Manufacturers in New York can no longer dictate where customers can bring their devices to get them repaired by limiting access to components or diagnostic information.

According to engadget.com, New York has just passed the digital fair repair act (Assembly Bill A7006B), making it one of just a few states in the US to do so.

The act, titled “Digital Fair Repair Act,” will require OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to “make diagnostic and repair information for digital electronic parts and equipment available to independent repair providers and consumers if such parts and repair information are also available to OEM authorized repair providers.”

If a part is no longer available to the OEM, it will not need to make the same part available to everyone. For things that require security-related locks or authorizations, the OEM has to, “on fair and reasonable terms,” supply the tools or documentation needed to access or reset such devices “through appropriate secure release systems.”

The amended version of the bill also states that the proposed requirements will apply to “products with a value over ten dollars” and that OEMs or authorized repair providers don’t have to make available any parts, tools or documentation if the intended use is for modification of the products. It also excludes public safety communications equipment and “home appliances with digital electronics embedded within them” from the act. Given the way companies have been trending towards making smart fridges, washing machines and more, this could potentially be an enormous loophole or at the very least exclude a large number of products.

The bill, which was introduced in April 2021, passed the Senate on June 1st and then passed the assembly. It’s now headed to the governor for signing (or veto) and will take effect a year after it becomes law.

Massachusetts previously passed its own Digital Right to Repair Act, which covered parts or machines containing microprocessors. The state has recently expanded that to include connected automobiles. Meanwhile, the California state Senate introduced its own right to repair bill in February, which appears to have bipartisan support.

Related:

• FTC Votes to Support Right to Repair
• Right to Repair Laws Commence in the UK
• FTC to Champion Consumers’ Repair Right
• Consumers to Get Repair Rights in Europe

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